Process for the production of ethylene, acetic acid and carbon monoxide from ethane

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated, optimized process for the production of ethylene, carbon monoxide and acetic acid from an ethane feed, including reacting ethane with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce ethylene, carbon monoxide and acetic acid in a reactor, wherein the catalyst comprises the elements Mo, Pd, X, and Y in the gram-atomic ratios MO a Pd b X c Y d , and the oxygen partial pressure in the reactor is about 15 psia to about 50 psia. The partial pressure of ethane in the reactor is about 50 psia to about 150 psia.

1 . A method for the production of ethylene, carbon monoxide, and acetic acid using an ethane feed, comprising:
 reacting ethane with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce ethylene, carbon monoxide, and acetic acid in a reactor, wherein
 the catalyst comprises the elements Mo, Pd, X, and Y in the gram-atomic ratios MO a Pd b X c Y d , and 
 an oxygen partial pressure of the oxygen reacted with ethane is about 15 psia to about 50 psia; and 
   separating the carbon monoxide from the ethylene and acetic acid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the partial pressure of ethane is about 50 psia to about 150 psia. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor is a fixed bed reactor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor is a fluid bed reactor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor has a temperature of about 250° C. to about 400° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contact time within the reactor is about 4 seconds to about 40 seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst element X is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Nb, Ta, Ti, V, Te, W, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst element Y is selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Pt, Zn, Cd, Bi, Ce, Co, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ag, Au, Fe, Ru, Os, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl, U, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a is 1, b is 0 to 0.01, c is 0.4 to 1, and d is 0.005 to 1. 
     
     
         10 . An integrated process for the production of vinyl acetate from an ethane feed, comprising:
 reacting ethane with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce ethylene, carbon monoxide, and acetic acid in a reactor;   removing the carbon monoxide; and   reacting the ethylene and acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to produce vinyl acetate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the catalyst comprises the elements Mo, Pd, X, and Y in the gram-atomic ratios MO a Pd b X c Y d .   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an oxygen partial pressure of the oxygen reacted with ethane is about 15 psia to about 50 psia. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the partial pressure of ethane is about 50 psia to about 150 psia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a reactor is a fixed bed reactor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reactor is a fluid bed reactor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reactor has a temperature of about 250° C. to about 400 ° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the contact time within the reactor is about 4 seconds to about 40 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catalyst element X is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Nb, Ta, Ti, V, Te, W, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catalyst element Y is selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Pt, Zn, Cd, Bi, Ce, Co, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ag, Au, Fe, Ru, Os, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl, U, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a is 1, b is 0 to 0.01, c is 0.4 to 1, and d is 0.005 to 1.